Club apologise for sacking director over Gaza post
Dagenham and Redbridge have apologised for sacking a director three days after her appointment for a post about the Israel-Gaza war.
Salma Mashhour was named director of development and engagement on 14 April, alongside Egyptian YouTuber Marwan Serry, who joined the club's ownership group, with the aim of expanding their global reach.
But on 17 April, the club released a short statement saying Mashhour had been removed from her position "effective immediately".
On the same day in an interview with the Jewish News, the National League side's managing director Steve Thompson had said "we do not tolerate racism, discrimination, or support for terrorism of any kind".
In a now-deleted Instagram post from October 2023, Mashhour wrote that she did "not condemn Hamas, I condemn the brutal occupation, apartheid, international law violations and illegal settlements that created this genocide!"
In a statement on Friday, the club said: "Over the past week, a great deal of public discussion and concern has arisen regarding the club's recent decision to end its association with Dr Salma Mashhour.
"We are aware of the strong reactions this has provoked across our fanbase, within the media, and among wider communities - both in the UK and internationally.
"We want to address this directly and clearly. Whilst we continue to stand against racism and discrimination in all forms, the club recognises the right of individuals, in their personal capacity, to express political opinions.
"We regret, and apologise for, any harm which may have been caused to Dr Mashhour as a consequence of statements attributable to, or associated with, the club's decision to remove her.
"The decision to remove Dr Mashhour in no way is an acknowledgement that Dr Mashhour supports messages of hate and division, and statements attributable to, or associated with, the club that could be taken to imply Dr Salma supports terrorism or engaged in racist or discriminatory behaviour are not accurate and do not reflect the club's position in relation to Dr Salma."
The Israeli military launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to an unprecedented cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
More than 51,300 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's health ministry.
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